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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Integrated Program in the Environment

Concentration in Biodiversity and Sustainability (Bachelor of Arts in Environmental and Sustainability Studies)

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements BIODVSUCON

The Biodiversity and Sustainability concentration integrates the humanities, arts, and sciences to explore the variety of life and the role of biodiversity in sustaining the symbiosis between humans and nature. Students pursuing this concentration can expect to gain knowledge and skills in ecology, conservation, and social-ecological systems and learn to analyze the scientific and humanistic dimensions of biodiversity. Students will develop an integrated "sense of place" by studying natural and cultural history. Communication, nature writing, and other expressive arts can be incorporated as ways to deepen connections to biodiversity and foster appreciation for conservation. Potential career areas include natural resource management, science and nature writing, environmental journalism, environmental education, museum studies, outdoor education and interpretation, sustainable economic development, urban and land-use planning, environmental advocacy, international development, or further academic pursuits with graduate study.

Requirements

The concentration requires at least 12 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Core Courses. Two (2) courses:
    • BIOL-L 307 Biodiversity
    • BIOL-L 326 Biodiverse-City. The Art and Science of Green Infrastructure
    • GEOG-G 307 Biogeography: The Distribution of Life
    • GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation
    • HPSC-X 342 The Secret Life of Trees: Scientific, Historical, and Psychological Perspectives on Forests
    • SPEA-E 457 INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
    • SPH-O 310 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
  2. Elective Courses. Two (2) additional courses:
    • ANTH-B 343 Evolution of Human Ecological Footprint
    • ANTH-E 444 People and Protected Areas: Theories of Conservation
    • BIOL-B 300 Vascular Plants
    • BIOL-B 364 Summer Flowering Plants
    • BIOL-L 307 Biodiversity
    • BIOL-L 326 Biodiverse-City. The Art and Science of Green Infrastructure
    • BIOL-L 369 Heredity, Evolution, and Society
    • BIOL-L 376 Biology of Birds
    • BIOL-Z 373 Entomology
    • BIOL-Z 374 Invertebrate Zoology
    • BIOL-Z 406 Vertebrate Zoology
    • BIOL-Z 460 Animal Behavior
    • BIOL-Z 476 Biology of Fishes
    • EAS-E 341 Natural History of Coral Reefs
    • GEOG-G 307 Biogeography: The Distribution of Life
    • GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation
    • GEOG-G 341 Ecological Restoration: Science, Politics, and Ethics
    • GEOG-G 451 Physical Hydrology
    • GEOG-G 461 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
    • GEOG-G 467 Ecohydrology
    • HPSC-X 342 The Secret Life of Trees: Scientific, Historical, and Psychological Perspectives on Forests
    • SPEA-E 332 INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED ECOLOGY
    • SPEA-E 363 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
    • SPEA-E 416
    • SPEA-E 422 URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT
    • SPEA-E 456 LAKE AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
    • SPEA-E 457 INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
    • SPEA-E 460 FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    • SPEA-E 476 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND REGULATION
    • SPEA-E 482 OVERSEAS TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
    • SPH-O 310 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
    • SPH-O 313 WILDERNESS AND PROTECTED LANDS
    • SPH-O 360 HUMAN HEALTH AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
    • SPH-T 301 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
    • Independent study, readings, research, or practicum in biodiversity and sustainability from any department (3 cr.) with pre-approval of the Program
  3. Concentration GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Concentration GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the concentration—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Concentration Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the concentration.
    3. Concentration Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the concentration must be completed at the 300–499 level.

Concentration Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception

Exceptions to and substitutions for concentration requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.